The American culture seems obsessed with work. Many of us feel guilty if we aren’t constantly doing something or accomplishing something. Even our “down time” is full of activity. What does it really mean to “do nothing” and how does one do it? For many living here in New York City, it can be difficult.
Our need to do nothing
Maybe the first thing we should consider is why we should sometimes do nothing. It’s an interesting disconnect that while we realize our bodies need to rest regularly, we think our brains can maintain an intense work schedule coupled with constant noise from social media or entertainment without a break. Not so. The brain overloads and that overload is generally known as “stress.”
Stress overflows into every aspect of our lives: our physical health, our emotional health, our relationships, moods, emotions, and our ability to continue to function intellectually at an optimal level. Overworking your brain can hurt every aspect of your being.
But there’s also an interesting physiological aspect that demonstrates our innate need to sometimes do nothing. When our brains are involved in a task, the brain devotes energy to the parts of the brain that are needed for that function. But there is actually an elaborate neural network that appears to only activate when the brain is not focused on a task. This network, which neuroscientists call the Default Mode Network (DMN), connects different brain areas, which could explain why we sometimes get brilliant ideas when we are no longer focused on a problem.
Ancient Greece gives us an amusing example of this function. The story goes that Archimedes, the great ancient Greek mathematician, was puzzling over a problem so much and for so long that he forgot to bathe. His slaves, finally disgusted, carried him off to the bath. Once submerged in the pleasant waters, the solution to the problem occurred to Archimedes, and he jumped out of the bath and began to run through the streets naked, shouting in his excitement, “Eureka!” (which meant, “I’ve found it!”) while his faithful servants ran after him with his toga.
What it means to do nothing
Doing nothing doesn’t mean scrolling through social media. This stimulates emotional centers of the brain, many of which are not always relaxing. Studies have found that people often feel worse about themselves after viewing social media. And staring at a screen, large or small, certainly does not rest the senses. So turn social media off.
So what does it mean to “do nothing”? It means just letting oneself BE. The most basic definition is to simply sit peacefully without a screen or book or podcast, and just let one’s mind wander and enjoy being.
The problem some people have with letting their minds wander, however, is that they may turn their thoughts to work, relationship problems, or other difficult or negative thoughts. That’s not the purpose of the “do nothing” time. So in the beginning it may help to give yourself some structure until you’re more practiced.
Some suggestions:
- Try this in a beautiful place, for instance, sitting on a park bench, walking along a lake, or lying under a tree. Let yourself zone out and appreciate the breeze, the light reflecting off the water, the sound of the birds.
- Instead of checking emails or journaling during your morning coffee, just sip your coffee in silence. Sit out on your porch or another relaxing, beautiful place and enjoy the quiet.
- Learn some simple meditation techniques, like focusing on your breathing.
- Choose peaceful, soothing music or water sounds to help your body and mind calm down.
- Take a deep bath with calming aromatherapy.
- Use a book of inspirational prompts to give you a peaceful, happy thought to set your mood.
Getting around to “doing nothing”
Don’t just get around to it – plan it. It’s that important. If you’re not used to relaxing or taking time for yourself, you may have to build gradually, starting with 5 minutes. You can plan it around your mid-day break, or turn off all your technology a half-hour before bed and just relax on the couch. If you have parenting responsibilities, plan to relax either before the kids get up or after they go to bed – or at nap time.
Get over feeling guilty about not doing anything. Guilt occurs when our actions are not in line with our values. So if you’re the kind of person who always needs to be productive, just think about how your “doing nothing” is actually doing something – it’s making you healthier and more productive in the long run! And you might just have a great idea while you’re at it.